JUBAL’S MUSIC
Genesis 4:21 reads “His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute.”
Have you ever heard of Jubal? His father was Lamech. (This is not the same Lamech mentioned in Genesis 5, 1 Chronicles 1 and in genealogies to Christ in Luke 3. This Lamech practiced polygamy and boasted about murder.) Jubal had a brother named Jabal. (When I saw that, I laughed and thought of my one first cousin (yes, I only had one) whose name was Keena. When my grandmother would call for one of us, we both went. Now as a grandmother whose first four older grandkids names start with an A, I understand the confusion my poor grandmother had.) Jubal is in the genealogy of the family of Cain, who killed his brother, Abel. Jubal’s genealogy was marked by violence.
Jubal was never mentioned again in scripture. Just mentioned that he existed, created and used the talents he had been given. Most of Scripture is about quiet lives, ordinary callings and people who fulfilled their God guided purpose, in the life season they were in.
Maybe, Jubal lived in a family who thought that nothing good could come from Cain’s lineage. The world did not look anything like the garden of Eden, where it had all started. But here was Jubal, who created and picked up an instrument and made music with it.
We don’t have any idea if he struggled with the weight of his genealogy. There is a lot we don’t know about this man, but we know that he did not feel insignificant, because of his past family’s history. He created, picked up a harp and flute and did what he could. He didn’t wait for perfect conditions in his life to use his gifts. He didn’t let his families past hold him back. He didn’t put his calling on hold waiting until everything made sense. He just started. Took step 1. Some might say they will retire before they concentrate on working for the Lord. Is there a certainty that they will live until retirement age?
We can’t see the entire picture of our lives, but we need to get busy and do what we can now. Jubal’s example to us is to be faithful in the present, in the time that is right in front of us. Jubal’s smaller story is just mentioned quickly in the larger story of Cain killing Abel. God doesn’t ask us to see our whole story on this earth, before we obey Him. God just wants us to actively trust Him and serve Him today.
God’s timing is not like our timing. God moves in ways that don’t make sense to us. Proverbs 3:5-6 reads “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. But in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” He uses the different seasons in our lives to prepare us for our future. Those are not wasted seasons but times for us to grow deep in our faith to God.
Our world today shows us we only matter, if we are in the spotlight. But God tells us we do matter and are valuable, in the every day happenings. We are all loved and significant in God’s eyes. Luke 12:7 reads “…the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Psalm 56:8 reads “You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle…”
Jubal became the father of music. Think of David who played the harp and soothed king Saul’s soul. (1 Samuel 16:23) Jubal started music that had beautiful effects for the future. His work did not change the world. His gifts didn’t show the path to our Savior Christ. But for those who love to play instruments and love music, he did create something very important.
We don’t have to see what God is using us for in this life. The point is we just need to have complete trust in Him in the waiting and serve Him today. Since I am older now, I can see that God has used my different seasons of life for a specific purpose at that time and for a reason for my future. We need to use what we have in each stage of our lives to serve the Lord and fulfill our purpose. We might not think our life is of any significance or what we are doing of any consequence. But God has a mission for you, even though you can’t see it. We don’t have to understand. We just have to have faith that God’s timing is perfect and for our good. We just have to keep on putting one foot in front of the other, trusting God that He is with us and helping us along our path. Doing the best that we can!
As far as I can find, Jubal is never mentioned again. We don’t know how long he lived-what type of person he was-if he had any children-nothing else. But we do know that he created music through the harp and the flute. (You might turn to this passage and look at his brother and half-brothers. They were also very talented like Jubal was. You might also notice that these verses name their mother’s names and sister by name. Something very rare at this time in Bible history to list women’s names. Just some things I noticed and for you to think about.)
The point of this blog, is for us to see that God counts us important, even when we don’t think we are of any significance. We can’t see our future and what it contains. God may be using this season in our lives to prepare us for God’s purpose for us in the future. Maybe, our lives have several purposes. We don’t know for sure, but we have to trust and continue to have faith: in God’s timing-in our waiting-in our difficult circumstances-in what we think are unanswered prayers-in the mundane every day happenings. Whatever age you are now, use it for service to God and keep the faith that your future holds the unseen joy of a home with God.
We are not insignificant to God. God created Jubal, who had a talent to create music! Jubal is only mentioned in two sentences in the Bible. But look at what he accomplished. We need to trust God in the waiting. Our purpose may feel unclear and our impact seems so small and insignificant. We fit into God’s plans, even when we don’t see it or realize it. We serve Him in the quiet, simple moments of every day.
Had you ever noticed before, the name of Jubal and that he was the father of music? I sure hadn’t. But we sure have now!
Till next time!
Keela